Refluent ear nozzle



Aug. 15, 1939. J J, NOWAK 2,169,923

REFLUENT EAR NOZZLE Fil'ed Feb. 16, 1938 25" f /5 M 4 Jaim J.' Naw'a N atto/:Manja Patented Aug. 15; 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE j 2,169,923 REFLUENT vEAR NozzLE John J.'Nowak, Buffalo, N. Y. Application February 16, 1938, Serial No.190,871

- claims. `(ol. 12s-240) This invention belongs to the class of refluent nozzles and it relates particularly to an aural nozzle for establishing a flow of medicated vapor or the like through the passages of the outer 5;, ear. f y

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an ear nozzle comprising a tubular member; one end of which is adapted to be inserted into the ear and having a removable partition so constructed and arranged as to divide the tubular member into serial passages.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an ear nozzle, the component parts of which are capable of being individually del5*l tached or removed to provide for the easy and complete sterilization or cleansing of the entire nozzle. v

Other objects of the invention will appear as f' the following description of a preferred and practical embodiment of the invention proceeds.

' In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of thefollowing specication and throughout the several gures of which the same characters of reference have been employed to designate identical parts Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a head set embodying a pair of the aural nozzles constituting the subject of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through one of the nozzles;

Figure 3 is a cross section taken along the line 3--3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a cross section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

The treatment of the ear, as contemplated, in the present invention involves th-e application of a current or flow of medicated vapor from a suitable source for such vapor, into Contact with the surfaces of the cavities or passages of the outer ear. In order to establish such circulation it is essential that the ear passages be vented so as to displace the inert air therein contained by the medicated vapor, and to apply a continuous current of fresh medicated vapor to the surfaces during the period of treatment.

With this end in View the invention involves the employment of a head set consisting of a resilient strap I adapted to encircle the head and having the ball joints 2 and 3 at its opposite sides from which depend the clamp links 4 and 5 which in turn embrace the ball ends 6 and 'I which form a part of the ear nozzles per se constituting the subject of the present invention. 55 The medicated vapor is led to the nozzles 8 and 9 from a source not shown, through the flexible tubes I0 and II.

The ear nozzles each comprise a block or body I2 having a transverse bore I3 therethrough. This bore forms a seat for a cylindrical tube I4 5l which is slidably and freely inserted through said bore. The tube I4 is secured in place by a set screw I5 threaded into the block or body I2 and the lower end of which bears against the tube I4. The upper end of the set screw I5 10 carries the ball ends 6 or I.

The tub-e I4 is open at both ends and preferably has its inner end I6 slightly reduced and rounded as shown so that it can be comfortably inserted into the ear. The tube I4 is preferably` 15 of uniform anoly smooth internal diameter throughout excepting at its extreme inner end so that it can be readily Y'cleansed of any condensation or other residue of the medicated vapolg,

The tube I4 is divided into passages II and I8 by a preferably thin and flat partitionv I9 which is insertable from the outer end of the tube lI4 and extends throughout its length, pref'- erably terminating at the extreme inner end of 25 the tube I4 as shown. The partition I9 is suitably secured to a handle 20. In the preferred form of the invention the handle isprovided with a semi-cylindrical extension 2l having a iiat upper surface 22 to which the partition I9 is 30 secured by means such as the screw 23. The semi-cylindrical extension 2| fits into the outer end of the tube I 4 forming a closure for the outer end of the passage I8 dened by the partition I9. The block or body I2 has an opening 24 35 which registers with an opening 25 in the tube I4 communicating with the passage I8 when the tube I4 is properly in place. The outer end 26 oi the passage I'I is left open.

. A nipple 2l is screwed into the block or body 40 I2, the bore of which nipple communicates with the opening 24, and the flexible tube I0 or II is slipped over said nipple. In operation, when the inner end I6 of the aural nozzle is inserted into the ear, medicated vapor ows by way of 45 the nipple 2'I, openings 24 and 25 into the passage I, through the cavities of the outer ear, through the passage I'I, and discharges by way of the open outer end of the passage I'I.

The particular virtue of this aural nozzle is that the component parts may all be readily separated one from the other for purpose of sterilizing or cleansing the apparatus. This is quite necessary for the medicaments customarily employed are heavy volatile vapors which may Fil sof

condense on the walls of the various conduits of the nozzles through which the vapor passes.

In order to disassemble the device, it is necessary merely to pull upon the handle 20, the extension 2| and partition I9 being thus readily removed leaving the interior of the tube I4 an unobstructed smooth cylindrical surface. The tube I4 may be withdrawn from the block or body I2 by slightly unscrewing the set screw I5 which may readily be done by means of the fingers. The only other removable part, the nipple 21, may be unscrewed if desired. The parts thus separated may be put into a suitable Vessel and sterilized.

It is contemplated that the aural nozzle. may be made of either metal or any other suitable material, a non-metallic substance being preferred on account of the fact that it will not give a sense of uncomfortable coldness to the patient when the nozzle is inserted into the ear and from the further fact that there will be less' condensation upon a non-metallicsuriace than upon metallic members.

While I have in the above description disclosed what I believe to be a preferred and practical embodiment of the invention, it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the specific details of construction as shown and described are merely by way of example and not to` be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Refluent ear nozzle comprising a tube open at both ends having the inner end adapted to enter the ear, a removable partition insertable in the outer end of said tube and extending therethrough, a plug on one side of said partition closing the outer end of one of the passages de ned by said partition, and a connection from a source of vapor communicating with said passage.

2. Refluent ear nozzle comprising a tube open at both ends, having the inner end adapted to enter the ear, a removable partition insertable in the outer end of said tube and extending there through substantially to the inner end, a plug on one side of said partition closing the outer end of one of the passages dened by said partition, the adjacent end of the other passage being left open, and the ends of said passages at the inner end of said tube being in open communication with the ear cavity and with each other, and a connection from a source of vapor communicating with the passage and the closed outer end whereby a serial path for vapor ow is provided through said passages and the cavity of the ear.

3. Reuent ear nozzle comprising a tube open at both ends, having the inner end shaped to comfortably enter the ear, a removable partition insertable in the outer end of said tube and extending through said tube, dividing the latter into passages, a handle to which said partition is secured, said handle having an extension fitting and closing the outer end of one of said passages when said partition is in fully inserted position, and a. connection from a source of vapor communicating with said passage.

4. Refluent ear nozzle consisting of a body member having a through bore and an intersecting bore, a tube open at both both ends removably inserted through the through bore in said body member, a removable partition insertable in the outer end of said tube and extending therethrough, a plug on one side of said partition at one end thereof closing the outer end of one of the passages dened by said partition, and a connection from a source of vapor communicating with said plugged passage of the tube through registering bores in said body and tube.

5. Refluent ear nozzle as claimed in claim 4, with a set screw for securing said tube in said body, the outer end of said set screw being formed with a joint element for connecting said nozzle to a head set.

JOHN J. NOWAK. 

